The Apulian city hosts the event from 5 to 9 May in which young people are protagonists: between concerts and debates, many girls and boys will be involved in awareness-raising activities on respect for life and the human person. Father Giuseppe De Stefano, founder of the Frontier Community: “Every time we try to plant a small seed that develops the culture of honesty.” The event will be broadcast live by Vatican Radio
Gianmarco Murroni and Andrea De Angelis – Mola di Bari
Honesty, respect for others and the fight against social inequality. But also music, sports and entertainment. Mola di Bari will be animated by many activities which from 5 to 9 May will involve numerous young people for “Eternamente”, the event organized by the Frontier Community which has reached its twenty-second edition this year. A program full of events, focused on the theme of legality, which Vatican Radio will follow live from the Apulian city. Father Giuseppe De Stefano, conventual friar minor and founder of the Frontier Community and the City of Boys in Mola di Bari, explains the origins of the project: “Eternamente was born in 2001 following the death of one of our boys, Vincenzo Fontana: Vincenzo was that grain that bore fruit and gave life to this event, which we decided to intertwine with the thread of legality”. Father De Stefano continues: “The area of Bari, unfortunately, is marked by illegality and crime. In these 24 years of work, thanks to the meeting of witnesses and speakers with the children, we have contributed to planting a seed of culture on legality”.
Listen to the interview with Father Giuseppe De Stefano
Bridge between Mola di Bari and Palermo
This year, in particular, a bridge will be created between Mola di Bari and Palermo, through the figure of Don Pino Puglisi, a Sicilian priest killed by the mafia on 15 September 1993. “All week we will host the relic of Don Puglisi that Monsignor Corrado Lorefice, archbishop of Palermo, defines the most precious relic: it is the gospel that Don Pino used, placed in his coffin at the time of burial and rediscovered intact on the occasion of the beatification. We know well that he was affectionately called ‘3 P’, Father Pino Puglisi, to which a fourth P must be added, that of Parola. The Word for a priest is the foundation of all life, as it is for every Christian. Lorefice will be with us together with our archbishop, Giuseppe Satriano, and will bring us his testimony about Don Puglisi”.
The Archbishop of Palermo Corrado Lorefice delivers the Gospel of Don Pino Puglisi
Legality at the service of young people
Among the guests of the event also representatives of the judiciary and the armed forces of the territory: “We will have Dr. Lia Sava, general prosecutor at the court of appeal of Palermo, who will bring us her testimony, not only personal but also as a Christian, on the topic of legality”, explains Father Giuseppe De Stefano. Particular attention will then be dedicated to the topic of the internet and the risks associated with it: “We have asked the Postal Police to intervene to train young people in the correct use of a very useful resource like the internet. Not everyone knows the risks involved in the internet, which often becomes a source of danger for our young people.” During the event there will also be space for the fight against gender violence: “We will have the pleasure of hosting a camper with the policewomen working in the area and who often face the drama of gender violence. They too, through the ‘This is not love’ project, will meet young people to raise their awareness of respect for the human person, in particular women”.
